The County

Neighborhood Books Laura Hale

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine -- September 14, 2021 -- Neighborhood Books owner Laura Hale stands next to a display of young adult fiction during the new bookstore's first week in business. (Melissa Lizotte | The Star Herald)

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine -- September 14, 2021 -- Neighborhood Books owner Laura Hale stands next to a display of young adult fiction during the new bookstore's first week in business. (Melissa Lizotte | The Star Herald)

Bookstore owner wants to create cozy community space

September 15, 2021

As soon as people walk into Neighborhood Books, owner Laura Hale wants them to share in the love of reading and sense of community that she has always felt in local independent bookstores.

News Browse News

Caribou elementary school driven to remote learning by after-school sports outbreaks

Caribou’s K-8 school will go remote starting Thursday until at least Sept. 24 following exposures and spread of COVID-19 during after-school sports and other extracurricular activities.

Hodgdon School Board updated on district’s COVID-19 situation

After last month’s contentious school board meeting regarding COVID-19 protocols, the Sept. 14 SAD 70 board meeting provided a calmer atmosphere to discuss the most recent updates on protecting against the virus at school.

Aroostook County faces its largest spike of COVID-19 cases in the pandemic

One out of every 100 Aroostook County residents tested positive for COVID-19 in the past month in what has been the largest surge of cases since the start of the pandemic.

SAD 1 schools remain open amid increase in COVID cases

Several schools within SAD 1 are seeing slight increases in COVID cases but currently plan to remain open, according to Superintendent Ben Greenlaw.

A bodyguard for the world’s top celebrities lives in Houlton

Jeffrey Maguire, 55, has been a bodyguard for powerful and influential people, from music artists such as Jay-Z to the Saudi Royal Family.

Houlton school district switches to remote learning following spike in cases

Citing a large spike in the number of students that would need to be quarantined, RSU 29 has decided to switch to a remote learning model for all of its students starting Tuesday.

Crime and Courts Browse Crime and Courts

Fort Kent Criminal Docket, May 2021

The following cases were heard under the Aroostook Criminal Docket at the Fort Kent Courthouse during the month of May.

Presque Isle Criminal Docket, May 2021

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine -- The following cases were heard under the Aroostook Criminal Docket at the Presque Isle Courthouse in May.

Houlton Criminal Docket, May 2021

The following cases were heard under the Aroostook Criminal Docket at the Houlton Courthouse during the month of May.

Caribou Criminal Docket, May 2021

The following cases were heard under the Aroostook Criminal Docket at the Caribou Courthouse in May.

Presque Isle Criminal Docket, April 2021

The following cases were heard under the Aroostook Criminal Docket at the Presque Isle Courthouse in April.

Fort Kent Criminal Docket, April 2021

The following cases were heard under the Aroostook Criminal Docket at the Fort Kent Courthouse in April.

Sports Browse Sports

From the Bunkers – Week of September 15, 2021

It is starting to feel like fall out there, but I’m still hoping for some warm summer days in the next few weeks! Over Labor day weekend we held the Babe Caron Memorial Tournament. On Friday night the one-club challenge was played and the winners were Kevin and Ben Tuttle.

Hodgdon boys grab 2 key wins on soccer pitch

Soccer squads have remained busy in recent games, but reschedules have been the biggest news.

Riders earn wins in Pine & Spurs show

The Pine & Spurs Riding Club held its August show the weekend of Aug. 21 and 22 in Presque Isle.

Old Town ekes out win against Caribou boys during Vikings’ first game

Old Town traveled north to put up a 1-0 victory against Caribou on Saturday during the Vikings’ first home game of the season.

Houlton girls, John Bapst boys victorious in northern Maine XC invitational

Dozens of athletes from northern and central Maine high schools competed at Caribou’s invitational cross country meet Saturday afternoon.

Houlton football tramples visiting Orono in shutout victory

Three rushing touchdowns each from Houlton seniors Caleb Solomon and Chris Caswell catapulted the Shires to an impressive 46-0 shutout over Orono Thursday evening.

Business News Browse Business News

Bookstore owner wants to create cozy community space

As soon as people walk into Neighborhood Books, owner Laura Hale wants them to share in the love of reading and sense of community that she has always felt in local independent bookstores.

AREA cancels next meeting

At the Aug. 31 meeting of the Aroostook Retired Educators Association, the board of directors, having considered the increasing local cases of COVID-19, recommended cancelling the September in-person meeting scheduled for Sept. 28 at the Caribou Inn and Convention Center.

Kiwanis Club sponsors JA golf team

The Kiwanis Club of Presque Isle sponsored a golf team for the recent Junior Achievement Golf Tournament at the Presque Isle Country Club.

F.A. Peabody promotes four

Lisa Hutchinson, CPIW, WCP, NcAM, vice president, insurance services for F.A. Peabody Insurance, has announced the promotion of Shasta Shields to insurance operations assistant.

County Tractor brings full service mower, tractor sales to the Shiretown

Those searching for a new lawn tractor that is also capable of clearing snow need look no further than the newly opened County Tractor.

United Way to start campaign with telethon

The United Way of Aroostook will kick off their annual campaign this year with a Sept. 16 telethon on local television.

State, National and World News Browse State, National and World News

Old Town ekes out win against Caribou boys during Vikings’ first game

Old Town traveled north to put up a 1-0 victory against Caribou on Saturday during the Vikings’ first home game of the season.

Cross Lake group plans virtual meeting on watershed plan

A virtual public meeting about the Cross Lake Watershed-Based Management Plan will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 27, via Zoom, hosted by the Friends of Cross Lake.

Bill inspired by First Mile Brewing in Fort Kent becomes law

A bill from Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash and Sen. Louie Luchini, D-Ellsworth to support small businesses in the food and beverage industry was signed into law by Gov. Janet T. Mills on March 17.

Caribou narrowly becomes Aroostook’s third Second Amendment sanctuary city

Caribou City Council narrowly voted in favor of becoming a Second Amendment sanctuary city on March 22. The resolution sends the message that the city is opposed to any unconstitutional restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms for its residents.

Living Browse Living

Houlton area From our Files – Week of September 13, 2021

100 Years Ago - Sept. 15, 1921 Betty Hume’s recital -- On Tuesday evening, Sept. 8, Miss Betty Hume gave a most delightful recital at the Temple Theater, her class of 20 pupils assisting her.

Presque Isle area From our Files – Week of September 13, 2021

75 Years Ago - Sept. 12, 1946 County’s income showed increase -- Aroostook County farm families, in 1945, produced crops and livestocks with the record value of more than $50,993,000, as reported by the Bureau of Census, more than doubling their annual gross income in comparison with 1940.

Caribou area From our Files – Week of September 13, 2021

115 Years Ago - Sept. 11, 1906 Buys a winning horse -- Jeff Bradbury has purchased from Milton Lufkin the yearling filly Airline by Lord Arleigh, which won a blue ribbon at the Northern Maine Fair.

Opinion Browse Opinion

Perseverance ensures the future

Twenty years pass by in a blink. Births, deaths, weddings and funerals all run together. Gray hairs sprout from heads of youngsters yet to be born.

Celebrating the first operator

Emma M. Nutt Day was marked on Sept. 1. Who, you say, is Emma M. Nutt? Emma was born in Perry, Maine in 1860. On September 1, 1878, she became the world’s first female telephone operator, a field that soon became dominated by women.

Want to make a difference? Volunteer

A volunteer is someone who willingly, without pay, does something to benefit others or to further a cause. In addition to helping others, it also benefits the volunteer by reducing stress, combatting depression, and increasing self-confidence.

County Candids Browse County Candids

Summertime Splash

NEW LIMERICK, Maine — Kenneth McCrary, 8, jumps into the water at Drew’s Lake in New Limerick.

Ducks on a winter pond

Despite the 20-degree temperature, ducks swim in the pond at Northern Light A.R. Gould Hospital in Presque Isle on Friday morning, Jan. 8.

When life hands you snow…

A happy-looking snowman greets visitors to this home on Downing Place in Presque Isle.

Raging Meduxnekeag

Raging Meduxnekeag